Tweet
Mediamax, Armenia
June 22 2013
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Karabakh say independence not bargaining chip
Interview of [Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh republic] NKR
foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan to Mediamax news agency.
No bargaining over Karabakh's independence
[Mediamax] Mr. Minister, you noted in your yesterday's statement that
"the restoration of full-fledged negotiations with the immediate and
direct participation of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic in all its
stages is a mandatory condition for achieving real progress in the
settlement process". Can we say the Azerbaijan's position reduces the
chances of reaching a compromise in determining the future NKR status?
[Mirzoyan] The NKR status has long been determined by the Nagornyy
Karabakh people through free and legitimate expression of will at the
independence referendum in 1991. There can't be return to the past.
The NKR's independence and security can't be bargained and we have
repeatedly stated about it.
Thus, we suppose all the efforts should be focused on working out
mechanisms and conditions for peaceful co-existence of two independent
states - Nagornyy Karabakh republic and Azerbaijan - formed as a
result of the USSR collapse.
That's why we think Azerbaijan's earliest recognition of the current
realities and NKR's return to the negotiations table will allow
ensuring progress in the settlement process.
Karabakh territories "captured" by Azerbaijan
[Mediamax] Azerbaijan constantly raises the issue of the so-called
"occupied" territories. What is your vision of the solution to the
problem?
[Mirzoyan] If we talk about territories liberated during the war
imposed on the Artsakh [Karabakh] people, they make inseparable part
of the Nagornyy Karabakh and the fact is fixed in the NKR
constitution.
We shouldn't also forget about the NKR territories which were captured
by Azerbaijan during the military actions and are still under its
control.
The issue should be considered taking into account the above mentioned
and in the context of restoring the historical justice and ensuring
the NKR security in all its aspects.
June 22 2013
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Karabakh say independence not bargaining chip
Interview of [Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh republic] NKR
foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan to Mediamax news agency.
No bargaining over Karabakh's independence
[Mediamax] Mr. Minister, you noted in your yesterday's statement that
"the restoration of full-fledged negotiations with the immediate and
direct participation of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic in all its
stages is a mandatory condition for achieving real progress in the
settlement process". Can we say the Azerbaijan's position reduces the
chances of reaching a compromise in determining the future NKR status?
[Mirzoyan] The NKR status has long been determined by the Nagornyy
Karabakh people through free and legitimate expression of will at the
independence referendum in 1991. There can't be return to the past.
The NKR's independence and security can't be bargained and we have
repeatedly stated about it.
Thus, we suppose all the efforts should be focused on working out
mechanisms and conditions for peaceful co-existence of two independent
states - Nagornyy Karabakh republic and Azerbaijan - formed as a
result of the USSR collapse.
That's why we think Azerbaijan's earliest recognition of the current
realities and NKR's return to the negotiations table will allow
ensuring progress in the settlement process.
Karabakh territories "captured" by Azerbaijan
[Mediamax] Azerbaijan constantly raises the issue of the so-called
"occupied" territories. What is your vision of the solution to the
problem?
[Mirzoyan] If we talk about territories liberated during the war
imposed on the Artsakh [Karabakh] people, they make inseparable part
of the Nagornyy Karabakh and the fact is fixed in the NKR
constitution.
We shouldn't also forget about the NKR territories which were captured
by Azerbaijan during the military actions and are still under its
control.
The issue should be considered taking into account the above mentioned
and in the context of restoring the historical justice and ensuring
the NKR security in all its aspects.